There’s this sad love song by Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand called “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”.
Don’t ask me why I know it. Seriously. I don’t know. Probably too much karaoke in my wayward, misspent youth?
In any case, the song opens with:
You don’t bring me flowers
You don’t sing me love songs
You hardly talk to me anymore
When you come through that door at the end of the day…
If only good ole Neil knew about the streetside rose vendors in Ho Chi Minh, he could’ve avoided all of Barbra’s sad nagging.
The city of Dalat, in the Central Highlands, is an oddity in Vietnam. Thanks to its high elevation, it enjoys year round cool temperatures (averaging 21-22 degrees C, as compared to 28 in Ho Chi Minh City). This means that it produces things that the rest of the country can’t: strawberries (smaller and not as sweet as the ones in the West), cauliflower (the “other” broccoli) and roses. Lots and lots of roses. Dalat flowers are even exported to neighboring (read: hot) Asian countries.
Did I mention they’re super cheap? 10 for VND 15,000 (USD $0.72). Yep, you read that right. 10 roses for just over 70 cents. Poor Neil. If he had only known, he could’ve sent Barbra roses every day for two months for the same price it would have cost to send a single bouquet of roses back home.
So, all you Vietnamese men out there. When your baby momma starts crooning, “You don’t bring me flowers”, simply head down to your friendly streetside rose seller and with the spare change in your pocket, your lady will soon be singing a different tune.
Ah, you tantalize me with visions of my beloved Dalat. When I resettle there (not certain, but likely in September) I shall buy MYSELF roses every blessed day! 😉
And btw, any song that includes BOTH saccharine Barb AND schmaltzy Neil… well, suffice ’tis much like sugary fingernails on a blackboard.
See you shortly to grab the geo-youknowwhat!
Dyanne@TravelnLass recently posted..Only In Asia: Well Gosh, a Present… for MEEE???
If you do end up in Dalat, I’m sure there would be a myriad of things to write about. I haven’t read any bloggers from Dalat yet! You’ll have that whole niche to yourself! (I’m slightly jealous already)…
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HI JIMMY; CONTRARY TO DYANNE, WHO IS PROBABLY FIFTY YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, YOU STRUCK A WONDERFUL CORD WITH ME AND THAT SONG, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEBSITE WHERE IT SHOWS THEM SINGING IT . IT HAS BEEN ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES SINCE I FIRST SAW THEM SING IT ON TV YEARS AGO. THANKS FOR THE MEMORY. NANCY
LOL. A little Neil goes a long way. I have to admit both Neil and Barbra were before my time, but there’s something to be said for the classiness of yesterday’s stars!
James recently posted..Unemployed, Alone and Often Confused — And Loving Every Minute